seeing me

I look at this photo and I see me. I really see me.

I see who I am and also who I want to be.

I see a 40 year old and a 10 year old.

I see my vulnerability and courage as I open myself, arms stretching out like wings.

I see my joy in being present and yet the motion of moving ahead.

I see myself, through the eyes of a sister-friend who sees me as I hope the world sees me. As I hope to always see myself.

If you don’t already have a photo that shows you as you; who you were, who you are, who you are becoming, I challenge you to ask a photographer friend to give you the gift . In turn, you can do the same for them. I guarantee you won’t regret it. And if you have a photo that really shows us sometihng about you, please share it today.

Comments

[margie]

my sister took this photo of me, walking in the woods with the dog at the cottage. one of my favourite places to be.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/margela/

[Brené]

Tracey - getting to know your 10 year-old was magic. You're the most awesome combination of grace and giggles.

Karen (aka chookooloonks) didn't just see me in these pictures, she taught me to see myself. It truly is a precious gift. http://ordinarycourage.squarespace.com/my-blog/2008/8/14/believing-is-seeing.html

[jfrancis]

I left the sea
to be me.

[abbey]

I love how you say 40 and 10 years old. I am 30 and feel like a teen at times!
I love playing with a childlike enthusiasm.
I am a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend.
I am carefree yet grounded.
and so much more.... see....
http://www.photoblog.com/abbeyh13/2008/06/22/beach-day-7-last-day-boo.html

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

From the depths of my soul......

http://wayfaring-wanderer.blogspot.com/2008/08/moments-abyssal.html

[erin.darcy]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edarcy/2764617999/
me...in my element. laying in a field of pumpkins, brown hippie skirt, my two best friends (that includes my husband) there with me.
laughing constantly... I chose this picture because my eyes are closed-because my smile is real. because my spirit is carefree.

[SH]

This is me, moments after my daughter was born at home (20 minutes before the midwife arrived!). I am so much more than a mother, but it is a huge part of my life right now, and I feel like this picture captures it perfectly:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2457952088_5e4b14523e_o.jpg

(Linking directly to the photo, as I have it set to private for obvious reasons.)

[lora]

great post. i added this to flickr account awhile ago. it's just what you are asking for:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28987938@N00/2372125728/

[maile]

oh tracey, this is such a beautiful image, and post. I love everything about it. You are amazing. xo

[tangobaby]

Tracey, I really love this picture of you. Thank you for sharing it.

For so many years, I have hated to have my photo taken because the photos never looked like the me I see. They never caught me in the way I feel inside so I just would opt out of the photo.

Until last year, when someone took this photo of me at the Gatsby Summer Picnic. I think what I like about it is that it shows me in a place AND time that I wish I had been in, as well as capturing the me that is really me. (I'm the one on the right, in the hat.)

Thanks for the fun opportunity to share!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tangobaby2/2487052768/in/set-72157604032816253/

[Lan]

what a beautiful picture and post!

http://whatiseeclicks.blogspot.com/2008/08/moi.html

have a great weekend!

[jag]

What an inspiring post & photo... Makes me envious, in a good way. I'm always the one behind the camera, so there are few photos of me, especially of me as I am. I'm not sure who sees me...

This photo is the closest, I think. I am Love... I am Caring... I am Sister-Friend... I am the one on the left. :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/1404080093/in/set-72157603916458711/

pace e bene,

[Meryl]

Beautiful. As Brene said, it's "grace and giggles".

[Jakki]

This picture took my breath away. I see peace happiness content love. Thanks for sharing.

[renee @ FIMBY]

Wow, great photo and post. I'd love to have someone capture me for who I am:

a mom and a child
a wife and a lover
a gardener and someone growing
and everything else I am
together with what I am becoming

My problem is being vulnerable in front of the lens. Also, I feel most pictures taken of me are so un-photogenic. Like, ugh... do I really look like that.

[HLiza]

I hardly like to see my own photos too. But this one I heart!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hliza/2479295189/

[megan]

what a lovely image, tracey :).

[Bridge]

http://flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/2752510814/

What beautiful shot of your spirit Tracey!

[~ kristina ~]

These portraits of everyone are so beautiful and inspiring! I don't have many portraits of myself that I like; will have to keep trying.

I think this photo, though, shows something about me: how I need quiet and peace to thrive. I feel calm just looking at it.

http://meadowlarkdays.blogspot.com/2008/08/thoughtful-friday_15.html

[Andie]

This pretty much sums me up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artsynaturegirl/2726146247/

[Jen - Beebee Mod]

You are like a freebird in this picture. I like giving the camera to my children...as long as they don't take a picture of my butt.

[Cocoa]

What a great image!

The best photos of ME have been captured by my daughters. They are with me day in and day out seeing all my weaknesses, silliness, and seriousness. The pictures may seem a little silly but that's who I am. Interestingly enough I posted them back in April as part of another Shutter Sister assignment.

http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2008/04/me.html

[Bet]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2765339413_1ef7d0b4ca.jpg
When I was young and much, much thinner I didn't like having my photo taken because my smile is crooked. As I grew older and stuffed the pain of an abusive marriage down with spoonfuls of food, I didn't want my photo taken because of the weight.

Now I'm 46 and believe that age is merely a state of mind. I love what you wrote about being a 40 yr old AND a 10 yr old. I can relate. I've beaten the fear of being photographed because I've finally found happiness with who I am. Now, I'm working on losing the weight so that the 10 year old inside me can play longer, run faster, hump higher and keep up with The Greats who are my heart and soul.

[camerashymomma]

beautiful tracey. i love how you're standing the most, your feet and your arms.
i don't know who i am these days, i'm changing too fast to keep up.
here's who i am today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2766299652/

[allison]

warmed my heart. yes i need a picture that captures me too. thank you.

[ELK]

Tracey keep stretching!

feeling my age and loving it!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/2766396536/

[Veerle]

Lately I haven't had any pictures that really define me... but then again I am still searching to know who I am and truely wanne become. Great picture, and love the post.

[~Heather]

I am really enjoying seeing all these photographs of everyone. Last week my hubby snapped a quick shot of me just before we had my birthday cake at a party. I really like it ... it shows me - I like to laugh and have fun :)

http://flickr.com/photos/pursuingpurls/2766675476/

[claudia]

are there any other women here who feel like this most of the time?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2766796004/

[elizabeth]

I love how you wrote "the 40 year old and the 10 year old". That is so true; I feel like I am a bunch of ages all at once, and the one that emerges depends on the moment (granted sometimes it's chosen wrong but ..). Someday I will have to find a photo that captures me.

[Elle]

This is my first post. I am so blown away by the talent of all these women. This is me.

[Tracy]

Me, taken by a good friend

http://flickr.com/photos/31417716@N00/2584864999/in/set-72157605653458417/

[Jodyangel]

Hmmm now Thats a challenge! I will ask hubby to try and capture me today...

I love this photo of you. You're like a bird =)

[Jodyangel]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13732519@N07/2768256066/

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13732519@N07/2767410731/

..thanks for the great idea. You are just incredibly awesome. Hope you know it!

[Rachel Parton]

me: http://www.flickr.com/photos/partonponderings/2767555635/

[melody is slurping life]

Would it be too forward of me to say 'I love you'? This is fabulous. This is the you I always picture.

I think this is a task I need to take on...being photographed by someone other than myself.

[Naomi]

A self portrait on my twenty eighth birthday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2351221153/in/set-72157605187632342/

[littlepurplecow]

This capture IS so you. The way I see you too. Love those twisted toes.

[kelly rae]

tracey,
i saw myself so clearly in this photo YOU took of me. i'm silly, relaxed, and easy in this photo..(thank you for capturing it).

http://flickr.com/photos/maypapers/2770108918/

xo

[danielle]

What a great bunch of photos-you are an artist! May I ask what kind of camera you use?

[Lu]

This is me...sometimes I don't see this, but I am glad I have picture that shows what everyone else sees.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ldb/2746082407/in/set-72057594120121854

[Mandy]

Oh! I love this! "A 40 year old and a 10 year old"....I want to feel like that (the 10 year old part! LOL). It appears you stopped time and are "in the present" in that moment....beautiful! I'm inspired.